Kings sign Keon Ellis to 3-year deal
- Thread starter coolhandluke
- Start date
ShastaKingsFan
All-Star
Most likely because of showcasing Mitchell for a trade, which is probably still going on....looking towards the off season where McNair "must" make a move or two. Assume that all the same guys who were announced as available for trade are still on the table....Huerter, Mitchell, and Barnes
KingsFanSince85
All-Star
Keon is displaying the same defensive talent that intrigued us back when we first saw him in a KINGS uni during the 2022 Summer League. The kid is an absolute pest on that end of the floor. And he’s seems to be improving his offensive game.
Siranthony
Starter
If Keon could learn how to pick up fouls when defenders harrass his ball handling he could be very effective.
sactowndog
All-Star
I think who is more efficient is match up dependent. Keon is much longer which gives him an advantage against longer players.
ShastaKingsFan
All-Star
It looks like he has the advantage in most match ups
Section 101
All-Star
Fixed.
Caccia
Starter
Coach Brown was asked the question concerning Mitchell vs. Ellis and answered that it came down to "experience." The question occurs just after the 2:00 mark:
https://sactownsports.com/youtube_v...-ellis-and-davion-mitchell-at-the-backup-one/
https://sactownsports.com/youtube_v...-ellis-and-davion-mitchell-at-the-backup-one/
GWD
Bench
Hmmm...basketball seems to be mainly a performance sport. But experience does have a place. It is hard to get that "vital experience", and the related confidence, to allow earning more court time when sitting on the bench for entire games or in two to three minute spurts.
Bro, what. You think Ellis is worth SIX more wins over Huerter????
You're essentially saying he's Gary Payton then
ockingsfan
Starter
This is where I think Brown paints this team into a corner. How are you going to give guys with better potential "experience" unless you let them play? There are players sitting on the bench that can make a greater impact on the games, yet they hardly ever get on the floor. We are never going to be able to develop that "diamond in the rough" player if Brown doesn't give them PT.
There is Keon, Kessler, Colby and Sasha on the deep bench that could make an very positive impact, but are hardly given the chance, while Brown relies on Durate, Mitchell and McGee due to "experience". SMH
TaxMan
Starter
I also think it's fairly silly to insinuate Mitchell and Duarte are some sort of grizzled vets. They are both on their rookie contracts!
upinsmoke
All-Star
No I'm not, I'm saying we have a huge flaw on the defensive side and have watched for myself as opposing guards in particular mop the floor with us.
ShastaKingsFan
All-Star
and yet he's willing to start Ellis. There's something else going on
ockingsfan
Starter
Yes they are not grizzed vets, but they have had their fair share of opportunity to showcase what they can do and it hasn't been all that impressive.
Keon and also Kessler have been pretty effective every time they are given any PT, but Brown hasn't given them any consistent PT for the whole year.
ockingsfan
Starter
It was out of necessity after the Kings got smoked by Denver the previous game with Mitchell starting. No other options, since he refuses to start Monk.
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
Here's the interesting stat when it comes to the 5 man units when Davion or Keon plays with the starters:
Davion: -12.7 net rating
Keon: +9.5 net rating
However, a lineup of Lyles, Davion, Monk, Sabonis, and Keegan have a +22.1 net rating. That said, while that unit has played nearly twice as many games as the starters with Keon, it has also played nearly 30 less minutes as well on the season as well. Strange patterns from Brown is the likely culprit but that's just strange.
Davion: -12.7 net rating
Keon: +9.5 net rating
However, a lineup of Lyles, Davion, Monk, Sabonis, and Keegan have a +22.1 net rating. That said, while that unit has played nearly twice as many games as the starters with Keon, it has also played nearly 30 less minutes as well on the season as well. Strange patterns from Brown is the likely culprit but that's just strange.
ockingsfan
Starter
Can Coach Brown get Keon into the regular rotation already? I mean the dude literally swung the Lakers game momentum from a 19 point deficit and helped flip it to a 20 points advantage in a single quarter.
At the very least Keon should be getting 15-20 minutes per game every night. He can effectively defend spots 1 to 3 on most nights.
Instant defense and energy when he steps on the floor! He's like the defensive version of Monk!
At the very least Keon should be getting 15-20 minutes per game every night. He can effectively defend spots 1 to 3 on most nights.
Instant defense and energy when he steps on the floor! He's like the defensive version of Monk!
Caccia
Starter
Coach Brown mentioned the disparity of experience between Ellis and Mitchell, but in fact, Keon Ellis is only two years younger than Monk, and one year younger than Mitchell, despite being a "rookie." Largely, that is because he went undrafted in 2022 after two years at the University of Alabama.
Vinny Basketballerino
Starter
He's one of those players that just never makes the wrong play. Those type of guys are deceptively valuable. They NEVER stop momentum.
GWD
Bench
Experience in the G-League should count for something. Keon gained a lot of "near" NBA-experience that seems to have served him very well in his development time in Stockton. To say he lacks sufficient experience is a bit of an overstatement.
On top of that, Monte saw enough of Keon's "experience" to sign him to three years. I've not seen many lack of experience failings in his play this year just from this lay person's observation.
Hopefully, he sticks with the Kings and doesn't become trade fodder. If he goes elsewhere then I wish him well in a Harry Giles sort of way.
Experience could also mean "time spent in Kings practice going over plays and situations with the rest of the team". I think it's a bit in poor taste for reporters to ask those kinds of loaded second-guessing questions right after a loss anyway, even if the general sentiment (Ellis should play more!) is one I agree with.
Keon SHOULD be consistently playing, but the issue is the only roster spot that's open is Davion's. And Brown has trusted Davion moreso this season and it's started to pay off over the last 5 games. I do think Keon can defend down to the 3, but that hasn't been something Brown has really been willing to experiment with too often.
But he did just show us he's willing to severely cut into Huerter and HB if they aren't getting it done. I imagine we're gonna get a lot of hot hand approach outside of Monk/Keegan/Domas/Fox. Colby Jones did just drop 40 in the G-League too.. these vets better stay locked in or these young guys are going to play their way into their rotation slot.
But he did just show us he's willing to severely cut into Huerter and HB if they aren't getting it done. I imagine we're gonna get a lot of hot hand approach outside of Monk/Keegan/Domas/Fox. Colby Jones did just drop 40 in the G-League too.. these vets better stay locked in or these young guys are going to play their way into their rotation slot.
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
I think the answer is maybe switching Davion and Keon's usage within the rotation like Brown did against the Lakers. He essentially used Keon the way Davion is used but Davion still got on the floor as the backup PG. Keon has barely played with Fox this season. So Davion did play with Fox and Monk a little but this time Davion was essentially Fox's backup, not Keon which is pretty much how Brown has used Keon exclusively this season when Keon played. Keon was far more 1/2/3 positionless against the Lakers and that's what he is. Davion in that same role has far less success typically. He's looked good as the backup PG combo lately though. Brown probably can't play that trio against every team but it looked pretty good against a pretty huge Lakers. If Brown is at least willing to look at Fox, Monk, and Keon as a trio if things are stumbling that's a good thing at the minimum.
Kingster
Hall of Famer
If Ellis could take the running DHO from Sabonis and make those 3 pointers then it's a no-brainer that he should supplant Heurter. As it stands now Ellis is more of standing 3 point shooter that is a fourth or fifth option. I just wonder if his relative inability to play off of Sabonis has something to do with not getting 20+ minutes a game. What do you think?
macadocious
Starter
for sure, Huerters movement shooting is a huge part of our spacing .
gunks
Hall of Famer
Good theory!
They gotta figure out some drive and kick action with Foxy then, because Ellis has just been too good to not eventually take that starting position from Heurter - who has probably been our weakest link out there.
Would definitely make it easier if he could start hitting those DHO 3s though. I'm sure he's putting in the reps on that in practice.
Kingz19
Hall of Famer
Probably.
Even when Huerter is in a slump he still draws a ton of attention and creates a lot of space. So even when he isn’t making threes or even scoring at all..the offensive fluidity is overall better with him on the floor. Especially for Domas.
